Well it happened

Driving my truck during one of these beautiful NNY freezing days and i see the Trac off and engine light pop on. Happy days, I start off positive call the dealership “check your gas cap” surely it can’t be that easy, I was due for an oil change and tire rotation so I asked them to look at the codes while they’re at it. My air pump and switching valve set went, that’ll be a cool 3 grand give or take days the dealership. I know there are threads on threads about this but I’m faced with fixing the truck out of pocket as my truck no longer has warranty (only has a power train warranty) or trading in my truck for a newer tacoma ( they have a sweet 2021 manual there and it’s tempting) if I go with the fixing my truck out of pocket can it be guaranteed that this issue won’t come up? By what I’ve seen it’s a design flaw by Toyota and they’re just gonna put another faulty part on it. Or do I go with the brand new Tacoma route and start over??


Update 12-21-20: Got in touch with another shop and they quoted me at 1000 to fix with parts and labor, know this guarantees that it doesn’t happen again I still haven’t made up my mind to trade in and start over or bite the bullet. I took apart the air pump to check the foam filter and it is still fully intact. The light hasn’t popped back on is there a chance that nothing is actually wrong with my truck and I can chalk it up to me not tightening my gas cap all the way? Or could I not get that lucky?

 

Only the '12s had the issue as a whole. The '13+ have the revised air dumb at shut off that blows the reed valves dry.

I'm your case it was just the luck of the draw...not so much a bad design. That said...the valves can be purchased. If you can do an oil change or spark plug change, you could probably handle replacing them

 

What were the codes?

I would try replacing the pump yourself first before getting all drastic and selling the truck. My codes had mentioned switching valves as well, but it was just a bad pump. The dealer may just want to replace everything for funsies.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/secondary-air-injection-system-p2440-and-p2442.370792/page-36

 

Shit breaks - sorry man! I say fix it & then think about trading your truck in. You can't jump to a new vehicle in this market. My AC Compressor blew this past summer. The AC Shop wanted more $$ then the damn dealer. I got it fixed & it wasn't cheap.

 

Codes were P2441 and P2442

 

If the SAIS is on the truck, you can’t guarantee it will never happen again.
You can try to fix it yourself
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-valve-swap-for-secondary-air-injection-system-p2440-and-p2442.480436/

To guarantee this never happens again.
You can remove it. Which legally makes it an Off-Road vehicle only.
But, it won’t ever happen again?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/secondary-air-injection-system-removal-diy-sais.655470/

 

If anybody on here thinks it CANT BE THE GAS CAP Better check again.
It has happened to me and my 2012. In fact the first time was my fault
I went to get gas and the pump would not take my card went home but forgot
to tighten the cap to the click. check engine light and codes 2440 and 2442
were present. Got gas the next day Saw the gas cap was loose and tightened
it up snug. Next day cold start- all normal. no CEL.

Several days ago happened again. Same codes. I thought no way.
But I had replaced the stock gas cap with a locking version. People on here said
it was a problem. Turns out it is. Put the stock cap back on And codes went bye bye
again. Have not returned since.

 

Not sure how friendly you are with your dealership but take a moment and ask for assistance... call Toyota’s hotline number. Ask the service manager and maybe they can guide you in the right direction also for assistance....

 

Mine is a 2012, SAIS has been replaced twice already. Once due to failure (at 25,000 miles), the other due to recall (at 46,000 miles). I’d like to get a newer Tacoma but the wife gets the next new vehicle.

 

Or just reset the codes and see what happens next. Never assume immediately that it is an expensive fix

 

Check the vacuum line that comes off the switching valve and runs up to the intake is not dry rotted and/or replace

 

That is a bit ridiculous.
Those codes for a gas cap? Wow.....

Did it go in Limp Mode too?

 

Yes it did, Both times. And it reset on it's own.

I checked on the switching valve and the gaskets and the total with shipping to me would have been $535
And thats without being installed.

So yes a gas cap loose or damaged can Mimic the same symptoms of a leak in the SAIS system. Anything to do with
the fumes being vented to air and not burned = some sort of codes.
The fact that you can be mistaken on a $500 repair or more is a damn shame.
My gas cap even states that if not tightened to the click can result in the check engine light coming on.

 

Yes this is another area you must look into before $$$ spent on the big ticket items.

 

I believe the 3rd gen Tacomas have the same SAIS system.

 

The 4-cyl does. The V6 has the exhaust manifold cast into the head, so the cats warm up fast enough after startup to avoid needing the SAIS system.

 

Since you're out of warranty, stop drinking the dealer koolaid. Go to an indie shop and get it diagnosed properly. If it's indeed the pump, a replacement Chinese pump is only $100 on Amazon, e.g.

$64 Secondary Air Pump Replacement for 2011-2015 Toyota Tacoma Pickup 17610-0W020

https://www.amazon.com/Secondary-2011-2015-Toyota-Tacoma-17610-0W020/dp/B08169BHS7/

 

Update 12-21-20: Got in touch with another shop and they quoted me at 1000 to fix with parts and labor, know this guarantees that it doesn’t happen again I still haven’t made up my mind to trade in and start over or bite the bullet. I took apart the air pump to check the foam filter and it is still fully intact. The light hasn’t popped back on is there a chance that nothing is actually wrong with my truck and I can chalk it up to me not tightening my gas cap all the way? Or could I not get that lucky?

 

psst: HP Tuners can program that thing to not function... Of course, that would be only for an off-road vehicle only.

 

Reset the light, tighten your cap, and drive for a few days to see what it does.